By Hilda Ifegwu
I have come across it somewhere that it is one of the most dangerous acts to get into a brawl with a man who has nothing to protect. He will fight dirty and go naked in the market place if it comes to that. This brings to mind the recent scandalous writings of Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State. It shows again how negative members of society can thwart good ideas, enhancing their criminal intent and content. Newspapers are supposed to disseminate information, teach good ideals, morals and perform other people-oriented services. But I have identified one person who invested in newspapers to facilitate falsehood and maim people who ever in anyway oppose his whims and caprices. It may not be surprising to learn some chilling details if one runs a background check on Orji Uzor Kalu. What was he before he was elected governor, where did he get his education? Who were his classmates and school mates? What businesses or item of trade was Kalu into? We were only gullible and so hoodwinked.
Answers to these will give a good lead, and except we want to heroise Orji Uzor Kalu, the answers may not be palatable, most of it to our upcoming youths whom we strive to mentor into being good and responsible citizens.
Orji was a psychologically battered child and greatly deprived backstreet boy in Aba. His parentage is still a good story told in hushed tones. If you are in doubt, ask Prince Emeka Obasi who once had an encounter when both talked about their fathers. There is nothing wrong with an ugly past as some known people of history have overcome their pasts and have become good members of society. In truth, there is none without some hard time experiences. MKO Abiola of blessed memory played music for food. Great Pa Awolowo did some menial jobs and faced hard times which he overcame. Towering Nnamdi Azikiwe was a stowaway for America from where he opened the way for more Africans. President Jimmy Carter once told a story of how he got the whipping of his life from his father because he tampered with the money given to him for offering in the church, Ala Ananias and Sapphira style. Abram Lincoln once split wood for money. All these men overcame these dark sides of their history and advanced their different constituencies, but OUK has sworn die with street mentality.
Orji Uzor Kalu from his claimed writings, newspaper interview and TV sessions has told lies unabashedly. That he was stopped from helping himself from the Abia till has left him like one stung by a bee or rather, a snake slashed into two. For six years he has mounted a campaign of odious calumny, waging war of attrition on Abia people and Chief T. A. Orji. Can you believe that due to his pains and hate, Kālu unleashed the Sun writers and columnists to insult Chief T A Orji for no good reasons other than self deprivations? See how he compromised the conscience of good men and they complied just to keep their jobs at the expense of ethics and values of the profession. OUK is a Virus that has infested the hearts of good people.
His so called leadership page in his Sun Newspaper is a page of ghoulish writing. Ghoulish in mode and ghostly in presentation and persecution. Should a page with such title write thrash? This manifests that OUK knows nothing about leadership. Can you imagine Jim Nwobodo, Chimaroke Nnamani, Dr. Mbadinuju, Ohakim, Peter Obi, all former Govs do such scandalous writings.
It was rather surprising to read in his thrash of May 15, Saturday edition, his admission that there are legacy projects in Abia, the same projects he told the world in a TV interview doesn’t exist. He wrote about rendering audited accounts, maybe, the doctored types he presented while in office. One will ask, why has OUK refused to be comforted? Is Kalu’s pecuniary loss bigger than the collective interest of Abia people? It is public knowledge that Slok Investments and Banks, The Sun Group of publications, all came into existence after his nefarious sojourn in Abia Govt. One doesn’t need to guess much where his wealth came from.
What did Orji build or construct while in office except empty claims? His writings reveal that he was the brain behind the hate and false messages which were peddled during the just concluded 2015 elections. All the lies about projects and huge accounts of Abia first family exist only on OUK’s wily minds.
Psychologically, OUK who is not a known social critic is only writing from his depth of pains over loses in Abia. So sadistic that kalu wants all Abians to die in penury for OUK to be happy. Let Orji Uzor Kalu buy all the newspaper pages, it cannot exterminate T. A. Orji’s deeds because people are keeping records.
Orji Uzor Kalu’s insults, blackmail and badmouthing is legendry and has been extended to many reputable leaders in Nigeria. Recall his encounter with Obasanjo, Atiku, Babagida, Anenih and others.
Do we need further revelation that OUK’s life is a catalogue of crimes, scandals and repulsivenews? For a man who publicly donated newspaper cuttings as money and had his property ordered for auctions by a federal high court in Lagos and reported in the Daily Times, we cannot expect any worse. If we recall the scandalous certificate racket and the surreptitiously obtained university degree from ABSU, which was shamefully withdrawn, the false claims of awarded national honour and the death scandal of a Nigerian lady in Potomac, America, one should know that nothing good will come from OUK. Why has he stopped attaching MON to his name? Have we soon forgotten his forged PDP membership of yesterday?
He only became a governor by chance and has refused to know that Abia people now know fully what stuff he is made of. Can you imagine that he has failed attempts at presidency and senatorial bids? OUK is simply shameless and irredeemable.